Audio Story

Colonizing California

Episode one of a six-part audio series exploring the struggle for Indigenous language survival in California.
Length: 60 min.
Place: California
Create your library

Sign up or log in to save your favorite stories and lessons, create custom collections, and share with others.

In Episode One, we are introduced to the language revitalization efforts of the Tolowa Dee-ni’, Karuk, Wukchumni and Kawaiisu Indigenous communities. Through their experiences, we examine the colonizing histories that brought Indigenous languages to the brink of disappearance and the struggle for Indigenous cultural survival in America today.

More to Explore

Audio Story
Tolowa Dee-ni’

In this episode, we meet the sole remaining fluent speaker of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ language and his family who are grappling with what is at stake if they lose their language.

Create your library

Sign up or log in to save your favorite stories and lessons, create custom collections, and share with others.

Audio Story
Karuk

This episode explores efforts to revitalize the Karuk language, which is deeply tied to the Klamath River in Northern California.

Create your library

Sign up or log in to save your favorite stories and lessons, create custom collections, and share with others.

Audio Story
Wukchumni

This episode brings us to the home of Marie Wilcox—the last fluent speaker of the Wukchumni language and the creator of the only Wukchumni dictionary.

Create your library

Sign up or log in to save your favorite stories and lessons, create custom collections, and share with others.

Silent Crescendo

Meet artist Slobodan Dan Paich, who creates simple drawings with tea and ink in a daily ritual.